Bone quality improved 2X by Vitamin D plus Vitamin K2 (trend) – meta-analysis

The combination effect of vitamin K and vitamin D on human bone quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Food and Nutrition March 2020 https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FO03063H

Xiaotong Kuang, Chunxiao Liu, Xiao-fei Guo, Kelei Li, Qingxue Deng and Duo Li

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Background Previous studies did not draw a consistent conclusion about the effects of vitamin K combined with vitamin D on human skeletal quality.

Method and Findings A comprehensive search on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library (from 1950 to February 2020) and bibliographies of relevant articles was undertaken, with eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 971 subjects included in the meta-analysis. Vitamin K combined with D significantly increased the total bone mineral density (BMD): the pooled effect size was 0.316 [95% CI (confidence interval) 0.031 to 0.601]. A significant decrease of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (-0.945, -1.113 to -0.778) can be witnessed with the combination of vitamin K and D. Simultaneously, subgroup analysis showed that K2 or vitamin K (not specified) supplement was less than 500 µg/d, which combined with vitamin D can significantly increase the total BMD compared with control group on normal diet or the group with no treatment (0.479, 0.101 to 0.858 and 0.570, 0.196 to 0.945).

Conclusions The combination of vitamin K and D can significantly increase total BMD and significantly decrease undercarboxylated osteocalcin, and a more favorable effect is expected when vitamin K2 is used.